HKG-CAR1844-1886

1841-1886

STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 515

TABLE No. 8.-The Number and Proportion of Cases of Sickness and Deaths to all those employed by Government, including Government Civil Officers, Policemen, their Wives and Children, Overseers of Roads, and Prisoners, in Hong Kong, during the Year 1848.

Total Number of Persons. Total Number of Cases of Sickness. Total Number of Deaths. Proportion of Deaths to Strength. Civil Officers, Servants, and Overseers of Roads 81 3 3.7 Per Cent. Policemen, &c. 368 54 14.7 Per Cent. Prisoners 1,093 8 0.7 Per Cent.

In analyzing the preceding Table, it should be remarked, in the first place, that one of the deaths recorded amongst officers of Government took place in England. It was a case of paralysis, and the patient was absent on sick leave. The next was an overseer, who became convalescent from a violent attack of intermittent fever. He exposed himself to the sun without ordinary precaution, and returned to his duties before his recovery was completed. A violent relapse soon destroyed life. The third case was one of delirium tremens.

The low rate of mortality, as compared to the admissions in the prison, might be regarded as remarkable, if it is not remembered that the population of the prison is very variable, and it includes all those who are committed for trial, the majority of whom never return, as well as those committed by summary process, for default in fines, delay in obtaining sureties, and for petty offences; their imprisonment is, of course, of short duration. Notwithstanding all, however, the evidence of salubrity in the Victoria Gaol is strong:

TABLE No. 9.-The comparative Sickness and Mortality for the last four Years amongst Persons employed by Government, including Policemen, &c., and Prisoners.

Years. Number of Persons Employed. Number of Cases of Sickness. Number of Deaths. Proportion of Cases to Strength, Per Cent. Proportion of Deaths to Strength, Per Cent. 1845 775 501 28 65 3.62 1846 847 655 28 65 3.3 1847 833 280 20 33.6 2.4 1848 1,333 418 46 31.35 3.4

It will be seen that the proportion of deaths to strength retains, through the four years, almost an equal proportion; the year 1847 presenting the lowest, and 1845 the highest rate of mortality. There can be no doubt that, but for the improved salubrity of this island by that most certain means of modifying disease, and counteracting and destroying its sources, the presence of civilization, the records of this year, peculiar for the intensity of its summer, would have presented a melancholy catalogue of disease and death.

TABLE No. 10.—Showing the fixed European Population in Hong Kong during the Year 1848, and the Proportion of Deaths.

Number of Europeans, including Women and Children. Number of Deaths, including those of Women and Children. Proportion of Deaths. 963 125 12.9 Per Cent.

This table is based upon information supplied by the Registrar-General. In the corresponding table of last year the seamen were excepted from the aggregate of strength and deaths. Europeans" include "Europeans, Americans, "and Portuguese" many of the latter are indigenous, and in some there has been an infusion of Chinese blood. The military, &c. are excepted in this return. The amount of mortality thus furnished by the Registrar-General does not correspond with the returns made by the colonial surgeon of Europeans buried in the colonial burying-ground; and a return, most politely furnished, and collated with great care, by the Roman Catholic Prelate, of Europeans

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